A descriptive study on foreign language anxiety among children

Abstract

While research demonstrates that foreign language anxiety (FLA) has both facilitating and debilitating effects on achievement in the foreign language learning process, there are no data on the mentioned issue in the Turkish context regarding children who learn English as a foreign language (EFL). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the levels of FLA among Turkish children who learn EFL at school settings. The sample group in the study consisted of 494 Turkish EFL learners enrolled at primary and secondary schools. The data collection instruments consisted of a background questionnaire and the Children's Foreign Language Anxiety Scale (CFLAS). The frequencies, mean scores and standard deviations were calculated. The results indicated that examinations and grammar-based language activities are the reasons of a moderate level of anxiety. Unpreparedness before speaking, fear of making mistakes, unfamiliar topics, negative evaluation by other students and fear of failing are other sources of a high level of FLA among children. Given that FLA constitutes a considerable problem in the Turkish EFL context regarding children, several practical recommendations are given.